Joe Baur Plays With The News: Week Nights at 8

When fledgling comedian Joe Baur envisions the future of Cleveland, he sees factories. But these plants aren't turning out widgets; they're producing comedians.

"My personal goal for Cleveland is keeping comedic talent here. These are the days of the Internet,"  says Baur, who is also a fitness trainer. "You don't have to be in New York."

The Mentor native is doing his part with Mildly Relevant News, a weekly show on YouTube. Baur doesn't deny it's similarity to The Daily Show, but says his show isn't merely a copy. Baur says he was inspired by the YouTube series that are being produced in Los Angeles. Baur's webcasts are an outgrowth of his blog, Mildly Relevant Thoughts. Both the blog and the webcast are a way of launching his own career as a a political satirist.

"I"m a Jon Stewart," he says. "Ultimately, the kind of writing I like is political commentary and satire."

He started the show on February 25, 2010, and it's gotten some attention. CNN picked up Baur's spoof of President George Bush shaking hands with a Haitian, and seemingly wiping his hand on President Bill Clinton's shirt. Since its launch, the show has gone from two to five episodes a week. But Baur wants the show to be more than a showcase for his talents.

"While Mildly Relevant News is still growing, the goal is to create a community for independent satirists, comedy writers or just folks who feel the world is too serious and we all need to laugh at ourselves!" he writes on his blog. "...The ultimate ten year goal is a Mildly Relevant News office in my hometown of Cleveland, OH, where the show is filmed, writers write and interns intern! "

Right now, though, Baur is splitting time between Mentor and Chicago. He came to the Windy City to learn improv comedy. The plan was to stay a year and head back to Northeast Ohio – until he met his girlfriend. Now, the couple shuttles between Illinois and Ohio while making arrangements to live in Cleveland permanently.

Ironically, Baur's affection for Cleveland developed after he left the area. As a kid, he never visited.

"I was scared to go into the city when I was little. Seems like suburbanites have a fear that after sundown, the creatures from I Am Legend will come out and hunt them," he says.

But he became more comfortable in an urban environment after moving to Illinois.

"Moving to Chicago, where the city limits are a lot wider, you have to go downtown to do anything, he says. "I got a little bit more streetwise."

So when he came home to Mentor, he started exploring Cleveland – and discovered its treasures.

"Northeast Ohio is my favorite spot. You've got city atmosphere; you have Cuyahoga National Park," he says."Cleveland has everything and I want to be able to show fellow suburbanites that Cleveland has a lot."